(Chesterton IN) - Attorneys for a gravely injured Chesterton man have announced a record-setting personal injury settlement.

 

In August of 2020, 37-year-old Brad Detert was seriously injured in a Valparaiso construction zone on U.S. 30. Detert, of Chesterton, was struck on his motorcycle by a driver who was allegedly disoriented by improper construction signage.

 

Lawyers went after Traffic Control Specialists, the company responsible for the signage, and on Friday announced a $37.7 million settlement. It’s the largest pre-trial settlement for personal injury ever reported in Indiana.

 

Attorney Otto Shragal handled the case for the Allen Law Group. “These cones and traffic control were one hundred percent set up negligently and improperly,” he said at a press conference Friday. “And when these rules are not followed, it is a guarantee that someone will be confused, and unfortunately this is exactly the type of horrible event that can happen.” Shragal added, “These safety rules are not optional. Safety for the travelling public is not optional, and I think we’ve been able to show that in this case.” Shragal said that they were able to present evidence that TCS misrepresented their error, then tried to cover it up.

 

Attorney Kenneth Allen stressed that because of negligence Detert has been deprived of his career and a normal life. “Those freedoms were taken from him,” said Allen, “and we’re here to say that when companies don’t follow the safety rules and regulations, we’ll hold them to account.”

 

Detert also addressed the media. Severe head and facial injuries, including the loss of one eye, likely cost him his career as a commercial airline pilot and flight instructor. “The freedom to pursue my passion and enjoyment of life was taken from me,” he said. “It hurts me that there are those that choose to ignore the regulations that are in place to keep us all safe. It hurt me that they also tried to cover it up.”